Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at the flag-off of the Run for Unity marathon ahead of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary, highlighted Patel’s legacy and contributions to India’s unity. Held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, Shah emphasized that Patel, India’s first Home Minister, was instrumental in merging over 550 princely states, including Junagarh, Hyderabad, and Lakshadweep, into the Union of India. However, Shah noted that Patel was deprived of the Bharat Ratna for a long time and faced attempts to erase his legacy.
Patel was finally honored with the Bharat Ratna 41 years after his death in 1950, and in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated Patel’s contributions with the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, in Kevadia, Gujarat.
The Run for Unity, traditionally observed on Patel’s October 31 birth anniversary, was held earlier this year due to its overlap with Diwali. October 31 has been celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) since 2014 to honor Patel’s role in India’s unification.
Shah also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, aspiring for it to lead globally across all parameters. He announced plans for a two-year nationwide celebration of Patel’s 150th birth anniversary from 2024 to 2026, further commemorating Patel’s legacy.
